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When curiosity sparks a movement: Inside Brazil’s generative AI team

a group of people on a video call

In 2023, Cognizant’s leadership team in Brazil had a simple yet powerful ask for all associates: start learning about generative AI. No mandates and playbooks, just an open invitation to explore. 

Beatriz Leal was one of the early adopters – translating ideas, coordinating sessions and keeping the momentum alive. She didn’t know where the work would lead, but she knew it was the beginning of something transformative. 

Bringing curious minds together

a person standing in front of a projector screen
Beatriz delivering a presentation on AI

It started as a small group, as Beatriz recalls. We met up twice a week to brainstorm how we could learn, apply and make this latest technology our friend. Initially, we didn’t have a fixed agenda. Some days we would listen to expert lectures on generative AI and other days we would bring our doubts, share articles or talk about upcoming hackathons.

I helped translate and curate learning materials and ensured everyone felt included. It was great to see how quickly my colleagues started contributing. Ideas started pouring in and brainstorming felt like jam sessions.

Finding solutions to real problems

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Wesley Oliveira

The turning point came when Wesley Oliveira, Senior Software Engineer, joined the group and brought a real problem faced by an automobile company. Suddenly, all our conversations shifted from learning generative AI to applying it to a business problem. The chance to build something meaningful gave us a sense of purpose.

Associates from different backgrounds showed interest in the group and came up with technical and business ideas. Together, we began working on proofs-of-concept (PoCs) and experimenting with models. That business challenge became our first test, uniting all of us like a team around a common goal. Although it wasn’t a client project, we treated it as if it were. As the numbers grew, we started calling ourselves the Generative AI Sandbox BR team. 

Leaning on each other for support 

None of us had prior knowledge in generative AI when we began. We had questions, doubts and moments when things didn’t make sense. But we talked through them and helped one another navigate challenges. When someone new joined the team, existing members explained concepts, shared resources and walked them through PoCs. We worked as one and our collaboration became our strength. We gained a lot of confidence and knowledge.

“It wasn’t just about generative AI. It was about developing a place where ideas and people could grow together.”

Beatriz Leal

Building an ecosystem of innovation

a group of people on a video call
Members of the Generative AI Sandbox BR team

While a long-term project isn’t yet formalized, the results so far have strengthened our relationship with stakeholders and opened doors to new opportunities. What began as a learning initiative has become a space for innovation with a remarkable growth in ideas and engagement along the way.

Today, our Generative AI Sandbox BR team continues to grow, both in size and spirit. We have a list of PoCs that we are actively exploring. Wesley works closely with our sales team to bring in fresh ideas. Some of our original PoCs have already caught clients’ interest, addressed real business needs and delivered tangible impact.

For me personally, this initiative gave me the space to learn, contribute and grow. Today, generative AI has become a part of my identity. I talk about it with my family, friends and everywhere I go. It’s something that brings me joy. This journey reminds me that when you’re surrounded by people who are focused on building something together, you end up building yourself too.

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